Burglar-proof express-car



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

0. J. POSTER. BURGLAR PROOF EXPRESS CAR.

Patented Feb. ,15, 1898@ 'A Tron/v5 ys.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

0. J. FOSTER. BURGLAR PROOF EXPRESS CAR.

Patented Peb. 15, 1898.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ORLANDO J. FOSTER, OF SILVER LAKE, WISCONSIN.

BURGLAR-PROOF EXPRESS-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 599,170, dated February 15, 1898.

Application filed October 12,1897. Serial No. 654,964. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ORLANDO J. FOSTER, of Silver Lake, in the county of Kenosha and State of lVisconsin, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Burglar Proof EX- press-Oars, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to an improvement in the arrangement of cars, especially eX- press-cars, and has for its object to so construct a car that it may be effectually defended by a single person and wherein a person entering the car may be held a prisoner outside of the compartment wherein the valuables are contained at the will of th'e vdefender of said compartment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a means of communication between the compartments, so that when desirable a person may pass from one compartment to the other only at the will of the occupant of one of the compartments and Without the possibility of a second person also gaining access when following the person intentionally admitted.

A further object of the invention is to so construct the said means of communication between the compartments that it may be used as effectually in banks or other structures in which valuables are kept as in an express-car.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the several parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section through a car having the improvement applied. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section taken practically on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the eXpressroom of an express-car or the room where the valuables are kept and carried. Fig. 4 is an elevation of the blind end of the car. Fig. 5 is a transverse section through a portion of the car, drawn upon an enlarged scale, the section being taken at one side of the partition between the compartments of the car, illustrating the improved door, a portion of the door being in section. Fig. 6 is an inner face view of the door leading out from the express-compartment of the car, at the side thereof. Fig. 7 is a vertical section through the door shown in Fig. 6.r Fig. 8 is a trans verse section taken substantially on the line S 8 of Fig. 5. Fig. 9 is a detail view illustrating a latch applied to a movable partition located in the compartment of the car which is entered at the end of said car. Fig. 10 is a front elevation of a portion of the main partition of the car, illustrating' the construction of the peep-holes or ports contained therein. Fig. 11 is a vertical section through the portholes shown in Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is a horizontal section through the improved door, showing two sections of the door faced in opposite directions to inclose a person. Fig. 13 is a transverse section through the improved door, illustrating the sections as brought one within the other and in position to admit of a person stepping into the desiredcompartment; and Fig. 14 is a section similar to that shown in Figs. 12 and 13, illustrating the members of the door as placed 'in position to admit of a free passage-Way between adjoining compartments.

The car is divided by a partition 10 into two compartments A and B. The compartment B is that in which the valuables are to be contained, and the only door opening into this compartment is that which is placed in the said partition 10 and is of peculiar construction, the entrance to the car being obtained through a door in the outer end of the compartment A, which is in the nature of a vestibule, but which may be used for the storage of non-valuable articles, if desired.

at each side of the center at a suitable disfj tance from the oorof the car. In each open- IOO The partition 10 is provided with one ory if; more, usually two, openings 11, placed one suitable opening in the inner frame 14 and made to command any portion of the said entrance-compartment. The trunnions 15 of the inner frame 14 are located at top and bottom thereof and are mounted to turn in the outer frame l2, as is clearly shown in Figs. 10 and 11.

In the side walls of the storage or express compartment B turrets C are formed, which are in the nature of bay windows or structures, and the bottoms of the turrets are a predetermined distance from the floor, while the tops of said turrets will extend,preferably, beyond the clear story of the car. The bottom 16 of each turret is preferably made to extend beyond the inner face of the sidewall of the car, so as to afford ample room fonone or. more persons to stand thereon. Sight openings 17 are made in the bottom portions of` thevturrets, and similar openings 18 are preferably produced in the upper portionsof the turrets, so that persons standing on the iioorof the car may, see through the lower openings or pass a Weapon out through the same, while persons standing on theplatforms 16, of the turrets may have a view over the top of the entire train and maypass weaponsout through the upper openings ofsaid turrets.

Ordinarily in` each side ofy thel express, or storage compartment B a doonD is located. Thesedoors are usuallyhin ged doors, as illustrated. One offthe doors is shown in enlarged view and in detail in Figs. 6: and 7, in which it will-be observed that the door is provided atthe, top, bottom, and at each sidfe with'a recess, the recesses communicating. A bolt 19 has vertical movement in theupper. recess off the door, a corresponding bolt 211y having vertical movement in the lower recess-ofthe door, while in the side recesses ofY saiddoor bolts 20have lateral movement. These bolts are beveled at their ends, so that when they are. wholly withdrawn from. the recesses. in which theyV are placed they will connect at theiropposing ends and their outer faceswi-ll beflush with the marginal edges of `the door. The bolts areadapted to enter the continuous recess 2-2 made in that portion of the door.- jamb against which the door is to close, and when thebolts of the door are forced outward into the recess 22 in the jamb it will be almost impossible` to open the door without tearing down the sides of the car.

'I hebolts may be operated in variousways; but preferably at or about the central portion of the dOOr. four shafts 24, 25, 26, and2-7- are placed, extendingfrom the inner face ofthe door, within the same, and enteringA recesses or cavities 29, formed at the outer end `ofthe opening, through which the said shafts. pass, as shown in Fig. 7. At the outer-end. of each shaft, within the recess or cavity 29 at4 that point, an arm, 28 is secured, andthe armsare connected, through the medium ofI pins and links 30, with the bolts 19, 20, and 21, towhich the shafts belong. Each Shaft 24, 25, 26, and 27 is usually provided with a handle 31 at its Figs 12, 13, and 14. the door is provided with a tubular projection 35' at the top, journaled in a suit-able recess inner end in order that the bolts may be expeditiously and conveniently manipulated.

In the central portion of the main partition 10 of the car a vertical opening 32 is made. This opening is adapted to receive a door E. The door, as heretofore stated, is of peculiar construction, comprising an outer pivoted sem'icylindrical section 33 and a corresponding section 34 of less dimensions than the outer semicylindrical section, as illustrated particularly in Fig. 5 and likewise shown in The outer section 33 of in the upper portion of the door-opening, and the inner section of thedoor is provided with a stud 36, secured to the top of the said inner section and held to turn in the tubularA projection 35 of the outer section of the door. The sections ofthe door extend downward through an. opening 37 in the bottom of the car and into a well 38, formed below the said bottom, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. Upon the bottom ofl the well 39, which is stationary, a boss 40 is formed at the centerhaving grooves in which balls or rollers 41 may travel. A stud or.a post 50 is carried upward from the eentralfportion ofthe boss 40, terminating at the topin a4 platform 51. This platform is of such dimensions-that it may be contained in the bottom portion of the inner section 34 of the door. The stud 50 extends upward through af collar 52, which is attached to the central portion of the bottom of the inner doorfsection `34, the said collarterminating at its lowerV end in a ii'ange 53, provided with groovesto receive the balls onrollers41, above referred to. Atl the lower end of the outer section` 33 ofthe door a collar 54 is formed, the said collar having grooves in its under face and the flange 53 having corresponding grooves in its uppenface. to 'receive` theballs or rollers 55, whereby the sections of the door have rollerfbearings upon their supports.

The collar 54 ofthe outer section ofthe door is provided with peripheral teeth 5.6, making the said collainvirtuallya pinion fixed to the outersection of the door, and the flange53 of the` inner section of the door is likewise converted into a pinion by forming teeth 57 on its periphery.

The, teeth of a rack-bar 60, contained within the well 38, engage with the teeth 56 on the collar` 54, while a lowerfand similarly-toothed or rack bar 61 engages with the teeth 57 on the fiange 5,3. The upper rack-bar is attached to the lower end of a lever 63, and the lower rack-bar. 6'1 is attached, toa lever 62, both of which levers maybe pivoted'above the carfioorbythe same pivot-pin, as shown in Fig. 3, buttheynormally stand inclined in opposite directions. Each lever is provided with the usual thumbflatch and a. keeper 64 to beengaged by the thumb-latch of thelever. Within the.. entrance.- compartment A, at each side near the top, a horizontal guide-rod 65 is secured, the forward ends of the guide- IOO IIO

rods being downwardly curved and extended to the floor, forming uprights 66. A gate F is adapted to travel on the guide-rods and upon the uprights 6G. This gate is preferably made flexible, and is shown as comprising an upper cross-bar 67, a lower cross-bar 68, and upright bars 69, the upper and lower cross-bars being provided with suitable eyes or openings which will enable the gate to receive and slide upon the upper guide-rods 65 and the uprghts C6. The gate may be, and usually is, provided with a latch at one corner of its lower end, which will engage with a suitable keeper when the gate is forced downward along the uprights 66 to a perpendicular position.

lVhen the gate is in its perpendicular position, it will divide that portion of the entrance-compartment adjacent to the entrancedoor from the doorway in the partition l0. The gate F is adapted to be operated from the express or storage chamber B, in which the valuables are placed,and the said gate may be worked in various ways. As shown, a lever 7l is pivoted in the compartment B, the said lever being attached to a link 72, which link is pivotally connected with a gripping bar or arm 73, pivoted to a suitable support above the center of the space between the upper guide-bars G5, the gripping device or arm 73 being normally in engagement with the upper cross-bar 67 of the gate when the gate is supported by the guide-bars 65, this being the normal position of said gate.

Short partitions 74 are placed in the clear story of the car to extend downward near the guide-bars 65, so that when the gate is on the uprights 6h a person within the compartment formed by the gate, the sides of the car, and the partition l0 cannot find an exit therefrom either through the entrance-door of the car or into the compartment containing the valuables, as is clearly shown .in Fig. l.

At the blind end of the car two fenderboards 75 are preferably pivoted upon a single pin 7 U, located at or about the central portion of the blind end of said car, as shown in Fig. l. These fender-boards are held at a decided pitch or downward inclination by engagement with pins or stops 77, shown as located one at each side of the draw-head. The fender-boards have an inclination from their pivot-points in opposite directions and render it almost impossible for a person to climb up the blind end of the car to the top, said fender-boards preventing a person obtaining a footing on the projection usual to cars above the coupling. When these fender-boards 75 are not required, they may be carried to the upper position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4 and made to bear upon pivoted supports 78.

In the operation of the door when the two semicylindrical sections of said door are one within the other and both almost entirely contained within the express-compartment oommunication between the express-compartment and entrance-compartment will be completely cut off. In the event a person approaches the express-compartment B the attendant in suoli compartment by looking through the sight-openings provided in the partition lO can determine whether or not the pe1son-ap proaching is to be admitted. If so, the person desiring admittance to the express-compartment will step upon the platform 51, and the attendant in the express-compartment by manipulating the lever 63 will cause the outer section of the door to occupy a position the reverse of its initial position, bringing the said section of the door almost entirely within the entrance-compartment of the car, as shown in Fig. l2. The person desiring admittance will at this time be within a cage the walls of which will be the opposing sections of the door. The attendant in the eX- press-compartment will next manipulate the lever 62,` which will cause the inner section of the door to be brought Within and concentric to the outer section, as shown in Fig. v13, leaving the person on the platform 5l at freedom to step within the eXpress-compartm ent, but effectually preventing any one else from gaining an entrance unless the door be again manipulated in the manner above set forth.

If at any time it be desired that communication may be uninterruptedly secured between the two compartments A and'B of the car, the two sections of the door are carried to the side of the door-opening, as shown in Fig. 14E. Should a person force an attendant on the train to enter the express-.car for the purpose of effecting an entrance into the compartment where valuables are contained, the attendant in the express-compartment by the aid of the sight-openings may note the number of persons entering said car and their character. The gate F is now in its upper or normal position. The train-hand or other person forced into the car will then step on the platform 51 of the door; but as soon as the person (or persons) accompanying the train-hand approaches the door in the partition 10 the attendant in the express-com partment may operate the lever 7l and cause the gate F to fall to the vertical position, mak# ing prisoners of the trespassing parties, and almost at the same time the attendant in the express-compartment can manipulate the lever 63 to bring the train-hand between the two sections of the door, thus shielding him prior to admitting him into the said expresscompartment to assist in defending the same.

It is evident that the sectional revoluble door may be as effectually used in banks or in any other building or structure where it is desirable to .prevent the entrance of unwelcome or unauthorized persons into a certain apartment.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters VPatentd IOO IIO

IIS

1. In a structure divided into compartments, a lever located in one compartment,

horizontal slideways located in the opposite compartment near the top,uprigl1ts connected with the said horizontal slideways, and a gate capable of sliding on the said guideways and on the said uprights, and means for operating` the said gate by the said lever, for the purpose set forth.

2. In a structure divided into compartments, a lever located in one compartment, horizontal guideways located in the opposite compartment near the top,uprights connected with the said horizontal guideways, and a gate capable of sliding on the said guideways and on the said uprights, a pivoted arm arranged for engagement with the said gate when supported by the said guideways, and a link connection between the said arm and the said lever, whereby the compartment in which the gate is located may be subdivided and the subdivision effected by a person in the adjoining compartment, for the purpose set forth.

In a structure divided into compartments, a partition effecting the division, and a revoluble door located in the said partition, the said door being constructed in semieylindrical sections, and means for independently operating each section, as specified.

4. In a structure divided into compartments, a partition effecting said division, the said partition being provided with a dooropening, and a sectional revoluble door located in the said opening, and means, substantially as described, for turning the sections of said door upon their axes, for the purpose specified.

5. In a structure divided into compartments, the partition effecting such division being provided with a door-opening, and a door constructed in sections, the sections being mounted to rotate, each section being capable of independent action, a platforml located at the bottom of the door-opening, around which the sections of the door turn, shifting-levers, and a rack-and-'pinion connection between the shifting-levers and the sections of the said door, forv the purpose specified.

ORLANDO J. FOSTER. Witnesses:

Louis J. SCHERF, WILLIAM MORGAN. 

